Don't hesitate to file complaints about scams

Earlier this week, the Better Business Bureau received word from the Federal Trade Commission that it was shutting down a Stevens Point company called AFD Medical Advisors. That news was music to our ears, because we've been investigating the company and its owner, Aaron F. Dupont, for more than nine months.

In fact, the BBB issued a nationwide alert earlier this year and shared our investigation with the FTC, Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The BBB received its first complaint against AFD Medical Advisors in November 2012. Nineteen more complaints followed in a short period of time. All of the consumers who filed complaints were filing on behalf of their elderly parents who had Alzheimer 's disease or dementia.

The complainants all tell the same story: Their parents had received an unsolicited call pitching a prescription drug discount card that they were told would provide substantially discounted or even free prescription drugs. Many victims were led to believe they had to purchase the card to continue receiving their Medicare, Social Security or medical insurance benefits. All 20 complaints filed with the BBB report that AFD requested the victim's bank account number and withdrew $299.

According to the FTC, the prescription drug discount cards the defendants provided to consumers are available for free by calling a toll-free number or visiting a website. The cards generally do not provide any discounts to consumers who already have insurance either through a government program or a private insurer. Not all consumers who paid for the purported discount card even received it - some victims received nothing at all for their money.

In addition to AFD, the FTC named other companies and individuals from Delaware, Georgia, New York and Canada in its complaint.

We're grateful to those people who filed complaints with the BBB and set in motion an investigation that has stopped this scheme. It might be easy to think that the BBB, as a private, nonprofit organization, is powerless to stop fraudsters or help you get your money back if you've been scammed.

After all, we're not a government agency; we don't have the power to arrest people or shut down bad businesses. However, we do work closely with agencies that can take legal action. This case shows how we did just that.

More importantly, the information we receive from consumers who file complaints helps us issue alerts about scams and give poor ratings to bad companies. AFD Medical Advisors has had an "F" rating with the BBB since December 2012.

If you're the victim of a scam, it does pay to file a complaint with the BBB. Your experience will help warn others and hopefully keep them from getting scammed (if they check out the company's rating with the BBB first). The BBB investigates businesses, and works with law enforcement agencies to shutdown bad businesses.

To file a complaint, simply go to www.wisconsin.bbb.org and click on the orange button that says "File a complaint."

- Susan Bach is regional director of the Better Business Bureau for northeastern Wisconsin. She can be reached at sbach@wisconsin.bbb.org or 920-734-4352.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Email this article

Don't hesitate to file complaints about scams

Earlier this week, the Better Business Bureau received word from the Federal Trade Commission that it was shutting down a Stevens Point company called AFD Medical Advisors.

A link to this page will be included in your message.

Join Our Team!

If you are interested in working for an innovative media company, you can learn more by visiting: